fotomoto

Oh yeah, got a loaded one! :worship: Suh-weet. :rockon: Lots of cool bells and whistles to explore and play with. Enjoy. :wub2:

Lots of carriers for bikes, etc so check around. Please check out my link above about clearance. Steel carrier is about 24lbs; aluminum is more expensive but lighter. Class I rated products are generally also lighter. Install into the hitch receiver is easy but you will have to get on the ground to put in/pull out the locking pin.

ditto and I have kids. Altazi, I also narrowed it down to a V and the CMax. I'm also a previous Prius owner (standard lift back). Basically real world FE is about the same so running costs will be too. I found that the V has more room but is cheaper build and lower ride height while the Max is larger than a regular Prius, better built, more comfortable (both body position and seats), better view, more features, more powerful, and just a better overall driving experience. I also got a better deal. The good news is both are good cars so you really can't go wrong.

Can't really see any sag but I not really weighting it down with heavy loads. I'm not seeing any reduction in FE. Yes, carrying a spare on family trips (just bought one off ebay) was one of the reasons for getting the carrier. The spare will be stored in the garage for regular daily driving. Here's the installation post: http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/190-trailer-hitch-supplier/?p=25635 being a class II hitch it has a 350lb tongue rating.

I don't wear sunglasses so I found another use for it:

Well we have a name for it now but it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue: CSP 13B07

Gary, As a former Volt owner let me clear something up for you and possibly others reading this thread. The Volt is always using battery power. Its main drive motor is electric. It has a special mode called mountain mode (the button you're referring to has other functions) that calls upon the small gas engine generator to build a larger buffer in the battery of approx. 15 miles range as reserve "umph" (technical term) :) for the EV motor to use along with the torque of the gas generator to climb very large grades like those in the Rockies like Independence Pass. It's not needed for any of our mountains or grades here in Texas. Mountain Mode would need to be selected about 20-25 miles out from the steep grade to give the generator time to build the buffer. HTH

I read your OP three times and still don't know exactly what you did: "hitting the remote a few more times" is ambiguous. Sorry I tried to :sos:

Went to the beach with the kids. All their sand coated stuff plus the ice chest remained outside the vehicle greatly lessening the amount of sand in the interior. It's like having a pickup again! :rockon:

I don't use it but IIRC the fob needs two clicks to open the gate.

That link has the same press release info as the link in the OP. I'd suggest deleting it to save others the time of (re)reading old news.

jrabey, if you have a CMax hybrid, the hybrid battery is only cooled by the interior air temperature and fans. There are two interior intake vents just behind the rear seatbacks when they are in the upright position. The stock oil is a motorcraft semi-syn blend.

It'll be 4-5 weeks before I get back to my normal routine that is way more hybrid friendly.

I've found the best way to keep the exterior clean is frequent washes (duh) and garaging it as much as possible especially overnight. A coat of morning dew is nothing but a but a catalyst for dust to become grime. Some folks recommend frequent dustings with a quality product like a California duster or using a quick detailer spray product. I've use those methods on my motorcycles but consider them to labor/time intensive for automobiles. Another solution: membership to a touchless carwash to encourage frequent cleanings. Interior: I scotchguard once a year and vacuum when needed. No snow or slush here just dirt.

The entry is from today but it doesn't really matter now since Adair has posted one.

CONGRATS Jim. I concur with nearly everything you said and also ended up with an SEL. FYI, the car gets better with break in. Lots of info here so dig in!

If you'll take my #10 entry in fuelly as evidence, I'll set the low bar standard: 868.6 miles on 22.54 gals equals 38.5mpg. :doh: Average over two tanks since my wife didn't do a reset filling up the car for the first time (panicked when she saw no gas cap). :noobie:

If you are listening to that station on HD radio, you can get an echo/repeat effect when the tuner switches from digital to analog sources whenever there's a loss in signal. On another car, I had a JVC head unit that was so bad about this I had to keep it on analog which negated the reason I bought it. OTOH, I don't have this issue with the Sony unit in the CMax listening to the same station going down the same roads. FWIW

When I was shopping, the factory website offered a dealer installed remote start as an accessory. IIRC, there are two different units but only one can be dealer installed. Edit: just checked by building one on their website. It's under the exterior accessories for $395. It states "dealer installation recommended".

I have not had the liftgate update and have had the common "sometimes 1 but usually it takes 2 kicks" issue. Anyway, I installed a Curt class II hitch receiver that is not "certified" for hands free use like some class I hitches. Well, it still works (YEAH!) but the icing on the cake is it's been working better (more 1 kick successes even when the car has been asleep for long periods of time). I literally kick/touch the rubber hitch cover (pictured with the words "Curt") with the front of my shoe. Go figure? :headscratch: I'll still get the update but I'm not in any big rush now.

You folks up north are closing in on or are at your peak driving conditions that are conducive to good fuel economy. Word.

I've seen and heard this so much that I always shied away from leather seats but I took a gamble, got them on my 2010 Prius, and have been pleasantly surprised. I feel no difference between them and fabric seats. In all our cars, we try to use a shade and tint but I think it's the foam cushioning that absorbs and gives off the heat. Every car since has been purchased with leather or added. YMMV

+1 We've had smart keys since 2009 and going back to using a remote.... and a key that you have to put in a hole..... and........turn......... seems.......... barbaric! :) We also had a powered liftgate on a previous van so we knew how handy that is too (no more touching dirty exteriors to slam it shut). We always get heavy tint here so a backup camera is very important. Never been a fan of powered seats but the infinite adjustability is wonderful on trips. Add in the leather seats (much easier to keep with kids) and it was a no brainer to get the SEL with options.

Due to a planned long roadtrip later this summer where we'll be out in the middle of no where with little to no cell service, I've decided to get a mini-spare for the trip but will store it in the garage for daily driving. I also have no qualms about using a plug repair kit as a first line of defense.